In takeover news, credit card protection firm CPP Group has confirmed an approach by US rival Affinion, while Irn Bru maker, AG Barr, and drinks firm Britvic have been granted a one month extension on their planned merger.

CPP Group has had a terrible year so far. Shares have plunged 75% this year for the identity theft protection firm after it was investigated by the Financial Services Authority over misselling.

The regulator could still hit it will a large fine with discussions between the company and FSA continuing.

At its last update to the stock market, the firm said:

We continue to have constructive discussions with the FSA with a view to bringing its investigation to a conclusion. At this stage, however, there continues to be uncertainty about the duration and outcome of the investigation.

While in August, chief executive Paul Stobart said:

Our experiences since the announcement of the FSA investigation in March 2011 - both regulatory and the effects of economic conditions - continue to overshadow the Group.

Therefore, because of the huge shareprice drop, any bid could be an attempt to get the company on the cheap, which the board may well reject.

In a statement, the company said today:

The Board of CPP confirms that it has received an initial, preliminary approach from Affinion Group Inc, which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the Group.

It should be noted that the approach is at a very early stage and there can be no certainty that an offer will be made or as to the terms of any such offer, should one be forthcoming.

Shares jumped 7.8p, 37%, to 28.3p on news of a possible takeover.

Meanwhile, over at Britvic and AG Barr, both companies have been given an extra month of courting to cement their relationship.

A deadline of 5pm today has been extended until November 28th, the second such extension since both companies confirmed they were in discussions in September.

The £1.4bn merger is making "substantial" progress, but seemingly not quite enough to be completed.

In a joint statement they said:

Substantial progress has been made and the two parties are now at an advanced stage of discussions, which are ongoing.

It has been a tough year for Britvic, which had to recall its Robinsons Fruit Shoot children's drink over faulty bottle caps. Revenues were hit by 2%.

Both companies have also blamed bad weather for lower-than-expected profits but hope the merger will create one of the biggest drinks' firms in Europe, selling Robinsons, Tango, J20, Iru Bru, as well as Pepsi and 7UP in the UK.

Shares in Britvic were down 0.4p at 359.6p, and AG Barr was down 6p at 442p.